The show involved Keith Southall giving Alan a tour of the gardens and Alan taking a great interest in Keith’s use of walls and water features. The picture shows Alan, Keith and Fran at the “Moon Gate”. So for a great family day out visit us at Whitlenge gardens set in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.
You are met at the garden entrance by the 8 foot ‘living’ statue of Hearne who won us a top RHS medal at Malvern Garden show, and now stands to protect us all here on your visit to Whitlenge.
From here you stroll through our Metal Hooped Pergola into our new “Garden of Thyme”, then through the Topiary gardens and into our “Walk of the Gods” with representations of the many and diverse spiritualties of the World. Turn the corner and you are onto the Deck walk over our Bog garden with the massive leaves of our Gunnera.
Go through the fascinating Log Arch Portal into the fairy kingdom and see the Hobbit Hole.
Then past the stone Folly and down to the biggest hobbit hole you will ever see.
Then walk through the twisted brick pillar pergola and around into the Whitlenge Cave.
Then through the Oak Rustic gate by the Koi pond and up into the top meadow where we then invite you to walk the sacred turf labyrinth where you can make your wish for the day.
As well as the impressive ponds and streams there are also many smaller water features including millstone, rock and cobble bubblers, and several wall and floor mounted water features plus many more inspiring ideas to fit gardens of all shape and sizes.
At the front of the house we have a scree garden that incorporates the cobble bubbler feature and also our Green man fountain, the inspiration for which is the English God of the wild wood.
After your exploration of the gardens you can relax and enjoy refreshments in our beautiful Restaurant and Gift shop.
The gardens, nurseries & tearooms are open 7 days a week 9am to 5pm every day (Sundays 10am – 5pm)
We serve delicious homemade hot and cold meals from our extensive menu including seasonal specials, steaming soups, freshly prepared sandwiches and perfect paninis.
The new Craft Shop has some unique and interesting Fairtrade gifts, again where possible from local craftsmen and artists, just right for that ‘special’ little present that’s different from the High Street. There is disabled access to tearooms and gardens and we welcome groups and cyclists. Dogs are allowed on the nursery but not the Show Gardens.
“Good walk round the Gardens, topped off with a slice of cake…yummy”
If you need an ‘Instant Garden’ it can be hard to find a good range of large, carefully grown plants with which to create that ‘instant’ effect.
Our nursery carries a large range of plants from popular perrenials and alpines to herbs and fruit trees, but is perhaps best known for its superb range of extra large specimen plants – especially useful for newer gardens.
For those larger plants, you can drive your car right up to our beds & show areas to load your chosen plants into your boot or we can deliver.
As you can imagine, when you’re choosing a lot of bedding or a few large specimen plants or trees this makes the whole process far easier than dragging a cart-full of plants hundreds of yards back across a full car park!
We Visited during Halloween when it was extremely busy.
Even with it being chaotic with lots of children and the mess they make, The staff were Superb. They talk with you as people not just an income. The Food was Superb, The gardens are fantastic and a lot of work must have gone into it to make it as MAGICAL as it could possibly be. The garden centre is small but there is something there for everyone, even just for those moments when you want to relax and calm yourself down after a hectic day. The gift shop has a great range of goods and is reasonably priced.
Toilets are clean and well cared for. And as for the Young staff ....well, they shone in midst of the maddening crowds.
Access to the garden centre is good and suitable for wheelchair users.
This is just a MAGICAL place to visit.
We have been on days when it has been very quiet and it just feels like Home from Home. Clean, Tidy, Very Pleasant. It just shows that the staff can work in any conditions extremely well. 10/10
John Reading
So disappointed with Easter egg experience. Yes the gardens are looking lovely but to hand out a sweet lolly in exchange for collecting plastic eggs was very disappointing!!!For the cost to go in surely just a small chocolate egg or rabbit could of been provided.
Jennie Pitt
Found it by chance, literally driving past and called in for a breakfast... very good, decent portions to, and polite staff.
Outdoor Adventurer
Definitely not a child friendly place! Even though I had paid for 4 adults for afternoon tea and garden entrance my 3yr old grandson was ignored. Not offered a drink? I had to ask for his voucher for the gardens I was asked have you paid for him? Well yes I had in fact I had paid an adult price!! Talk about making you feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. If you want to go somewhere where the staff look down their noses at you go ahead.
Garden staff were completely different what a shame that the cafe staff spoilt this lovely family afternoon out.
Kim Grigg
A quiet corner of green space. Found lots of ideas to enhance our own garden. Great emphasis on bringing nature back to your own back yard. Spent a peaceful afternoon here, quite quiet, probably due to the weather forecast.
Jon McMillan
My daughter booked this with a Groupon offer, entrance to gardens and high tea for four. She rang and asked were they able to cater for her Mom who is gluten and dairy intolerant. She was told not a problem. However, when we sat down for tea the waitress said there wasn't a problem with the sandwiches but they had gluten free or dairy free but no gluten AND dairy wifefree.My only ate one of the scones she was given and unfortunately seems to have had a reaction to it last night and today. The rest of us were fine and the gardens were stunning but they really must get there act together with regard to food intolerances. You cannot advertise that you supply gluten and dairy free if in fact you don't, the two separately but not together. A lovely day was spoilt by my wife's reaction last night and today. Please Whitlenge GET IT RIGHT for your customers.
Bernard Taylor
Visited here a few years ago, it seems to have gone a little down hill since then.
It was a baking hot day when we visited this time, but it was very quiet.
There is a lovely tea room, but the quality of the food and drink is nowhere as good as it used to be. The cakes are only average and the coffee is very much on the weak side. They used to do a lovely home made fresh milkshake!, sadly no more.
The gardens are £4.50 per adult to walk round, not the best value but not too over the top either. We had the benefit of a beautiful day so things always seem better. There are some nice flowers and shrubs with little hide aways, water fearures and unexpected ornaments. Everything just seemed a bit tired though.
The plants they had for sale in the nursery section though were terrible, most looked half dead.
The staff are all pleasant and friendly.
It was a nice couple of hours spent there, but I wouldn't visit again.
A shame as it could be really good.
GRAHAME PRICE-HUNT
This is one of the best places around to visit. Beautiful gardens and a fantastic play ground, before you even get started on the amazing food, superb cakes, fabulous coffee and the best hot chocolate around. This is one of our favourite haunts.
Gemmavisit Creative Landscapes
Whitlenge Lane, Hartlebury, Worc, DY10 4HD
01299 250 720
keith.southall@creativelandscapes.co.uk
Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm Sun 10am-5pm
